Resources

Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites

Since 1979 over 500 events involving unplanned explosions at munitions sites were recorded. The Small Arms Survey has released online detailed findings from its Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) database, providing information on the location, causes and casualties of each incident.

Weapons and Markets

There are an estimated 875 million small arms in circulation worldwide, produced by more than 1,000 companies from nearly 100 countries. All countries—and numerous non-state armed groups—procure small arms; the Small Arms Survey estimates that their annual authorized trade exceeds USD 8.5 billion. Accurate assessments are difficult, complicated by the reluctance of many states to report publicly on their legal production, exports, and imports of small arms. Analysis of their illegal activities is even more difficult. Significantly, many important exporters are not major producers of small arms, with substantial numbers of legally acquired small arms entering illicit markets through corruption, seizure, and loss.

Further information on various small arms control measures—such as disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programmes, security sector reform (SSR) initiatives, and stockpile management or surplus destruction activities—are available on the control measures section of this website.